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Cast: Lukas Haas, Molly Parker, Adam Scott, R.H. Thomson, Wendy Crewson
When writer Will Morrison (Lukas Haas) comes back to his friends and family after abandoning them with no explanation for five long years, his sudden return stirs up old tensions between Will, his wife, Maggie (Molly Parker), and his best friend, Daniel (Adam Scott). In the meantime, Daniel's parents (Wendy Crewson and R.H. Thomson) reluctantly play host to an awkwardly comic -- and potentially explosive -- reunion.
Writer/Director, Matt Bissonnette's latest film "Passenger Side" which was made in 2008 recently played the Festival circuit and is now on DVD. "Who Loves the Sun" was made back in 2006 but it still has all trademarks that make Bissonnette one of the best Independent film makers around. The story evolves around three characters, Will, his wife Maggie and his once best friend Daniel. As you find out Daniel had an affair with Maggie and Will walked in on it which caused him to leave town and life for everyone went on and secrets were kept buried. When Will returns home he tells everyone including Daniel's parents that he has a book deal but he has other motives. Before long Daniel and Maggie both return home as well and from there tensions caused from the past ignite in dramatic fashion as well as some hilarious moments as well. I fell in love with "Passenger Side" and I enjoyed this film just as much, it has the same human, realistic themes with quirky humor blended in. All but one of the 5 characters in the film have some sort of past, connected of course that is about to come to an explosive climax once they all get together. The cast is one that is made in heaven, Lukas Haas, Adam Scott(who was also in Passenger Side) and Molly Parker are all terrific and have great chemistry together plus Wendy Crewson and R.H. Thomson are wonderful as Daniel's parents but they too have a secret that makes things that much more complicated and entertaining. The production is nothing short of magnificent with fantastic scenery and a Indie soundtrack that is just killer. I don't want to go into details on what happens because that is best seen than told about but the story is about making choices and finally coming face to face with them, it is also about friendship, romance and family even though this family isn't exactly a picture perfect example. The ending like so many Independent films doesn't really follow the "Hollywood" formula, you don't exactly get a happy ending here but you do get the sense of hope for everyone involved.
"Who Loves the Sun" is a terrific "dramedy" that leaves you with a smile on your face. This is what Independent cinema stands for and it's another gem I rank right up there with some of the best movies I seen this year from one of the best filmmakers around today. At the moment I don't have any details on Special Features the DVD might have on it but even if it has none this is still a must-see/Must-own film that is going to have a lot of people talking when it is released on DVD January 4, 2011. You can receive notice when this title becomes available HERE.
Released by Osiris Entertainment
***** Out Of *****